While Goku and her friends were preparing for journey into the wilds of the Everfree, another event was taking place. In Canterlot City, on one of the many floors of the Royal Canterlot Castle, laid a room bigger than any other section in the building. It had enormous windows that looked to be made from the shiniest and most beautiful of crystals, all of which having art pictures and paintings dating back to ancient times. A large row of pillars lined both sides of the hallways, with the ceiling having beautiful ancient fabric cloths hanging from above.

At the far end of the room, stood an enormous chair with a small stairway leading to it, the lower parts of the chair having little waterfalls and pots of purple flowers on either side. Behind the throne, were two large blue clothes, one having the picture of the land, while the other had that of the air and the sea, with a large glass symbol of the sun hanging from above. This room was known as the Royal Throne Room, the largest room known to be located inside the Royal Castle of Canterlot City. It also belonged to that of the Sun Goddess Queen Celestia Daybringer herself.

The Throne Room wasn’t like any of the other rooms in the Castle; this was a room where everypony would get to see the Queen herself whenever she had the time to. It was for just about anything, be it business, discussing things like trade, peace treaties or alliances. Or it could even simply be for some one on one time with Celestia, something that very few ponies had the luxury of doing.

Or course, that wasn’t to say that there weren’t any guards here, like the countless others set up around the castle. Although, there were usually one or two lined up at the doors, with a long line of them set up down the hallway. There were rarely times where Celestia had the guards all lined up in the exact same place, ready to obey their Queen’s every command. The only times that this happened was during times of a major crisis or when danger was lurking just around the corner. Those time was where every ounce of their strength would be needed to face a deadly foe threating their beloved land. This, much to a certain Sun Goddesses’ dismay, was one of those times.

Queen Celestia loomed over her throne like a Bald Eagle perched over a treetop as each and every single guard gathered in the Throne Room right in front of her. All of the were split into groups that allowed them to be told apart. The first of them were the Solar Guards each of them set in what looked to be the heaviest set of armor anypony had ever scene. All of them were sported with swords and spears that looked to be made from the sharpest of metal. Those that were stallions looked buff and muscular, while the mares, looked to be more lithe, slender and feminine. Despite that, they looked to be just as strong and intimidating as the stallions, looking as deadly as they were elegant. A fearsome combination of strength and speed as one may say as expected in the most elite forces of Equestria.

The second group of guards looked to be just as, if not even scarier, then the ones in front of them, and for very good reason. Unlike the Solar Guards, they were not suited in the same golden armor made for them by Queen Celestia. Their armor that was a darker shade of black and purple, looking to be sharp and pointy, especially on the heads, which had what looked to be fins, while the horseshoes had blades. Some of their coats were a shade or two darker, and cat-like slitted eyes that seemed to shine in the darkness of the Throne Room like a firefly in the night.

Like the Pegasus ponies, all of them had wings, however they did not have the beautiful and majestic feathery texture found on Pegasi. Their wings were twice as big as their Pegasus counterparts, looking to be leathery, like that of a bat’s, yet at very muscular and sharp, giving them the appearance of Bat Ponies. Upon closer inspection, it could be made apparent that they actually were bat ponies, or Thestrals, as their more commonly known. The wing thumbs looked to be sharper than machetes; the edges looking like they could slice through somepony with a single swipe.

Large fluffy looking tufts of fur could be seen on the tips of their ears, adding some semblance of cuteness to their rather dark and frightening appearances. Poking out from the corners of their mouths, looking to be sharper than kitchen knives, were a set of curved fangs. All of them looked to be more than capable of piercing into and ripping out the throat of any living being, eve that of a pony, should they be provoked. These mysterious looking ponies of the night were known the Thestrals, elusive, secretive, and the long thought to be dead followers of Queen Luna Nightwalker herself.

The last group of ponies huddled in the Throne Room, standing at the far right of both the Solar and Lunar Guards, was another group of ponies, all of them being Pegasi. Unlike the last two groups ponies, they were not dressed in either the bright or dark colored suits of armor like the other Pegasi, Unicorns, Earth Ponies or even the Thestrals. They had tight leather black, purple, and yellow uniforms, with a set of flashing yellow goggles to match, with strong athletic frames that looked to be made for quick swift movements, and it did not look like it was restricted to just flying either. This group of ponies were known as the Shadowbolts, another formidable group that was founded by Queen Luna, which also long thought to have faded into ancient times countless centuries ago.

Celestia stared down at all three groups with an expression that remained unreadable, while they all stood to attention, lookin directly back at her. Despite their still postures, the swan their curiosity, confusion as to why they were called here could be sense by the Solar Queen. She could understand why, for this was something that she would not normally do unless it was an emergency, and after what happened at the Town Square, this was the case for one. Despite their nervousness, Celestia knew that she didn’t have any other choice on the matter, and that it needed to be done. This was a matter of the utmost importance, and she could only hope that they would not lose their nerve by what she was about to have them do.

With a soft sigh, Celestia raised a hoof, abruptly silence any murmuring from the ponies down below. Once she was sure they were all quiet, she finally began to speak. “Thank you all for coming my little ponies. I must admit, I did call you all on such short notice, and I apologize if I was interrupting anything that you were doing. To be honest, I wish that I could’ve called you all here on less than urgent circumstances.” She lowered her head as her ears pinned back against her head. “Alas, it seems that fate has other plans for us today…”

At these words, another chorus or murmuring broke through the crowd, all of them wondering just what all the fuss was about. This lasted for a few more minutes before one Solar Guard, this being a Unicorn with greenish brown fur and a silvery mane and tail raised a hoof.

“Um, your Highness…if I may ask, with your permission of course?” The stallion said, earning a nod from the Sun Goddess. “Why is it that you have called us and…them, here today?” He gestured to the Lunar Guards and the Shadowbolts standing next to them, sending them a nervous glance as he did so.

“I have called each and every one of you here for a matter that is of the greatest and utmost importance. One that is possibly greater than any other time that I have called you here.” Celestia replied her lavender eyes scanning each Guard inside the Throne Room. “Before I get into that, I must ask you that you keep as calm and composed as you possibly can. What I am about to tell you may get you all a bit…anxious, if not fearful for your very lives.”

The swan white Alicorn paused, taking a moment to let everypony voice their confusion at these words to one another, before she spoke again. “Not too long ago, while I was in Ponyville, I was just about to begin the annual Summer Sun Celebration and celebrate with my little ponies. Unfortunately, I was not able to, for somepony invaded the Town Square, and attacked me without warning, nearly eliminating me.”

As soon as those words left the mare’s lips, the group of Solar Guards let out loud gasps as they stared at up their Queen. Their eyes widened, and their jaws unhinged, unable to believe what they had just heard her say. The Lunar Guards on the left looked just as taken aback, having obviously not expected to hear this, but they were much more composed than the Solar Guards. The Shadowbolts looked to be the most shocked even though didn’t look like in their goggled and masked faces, though their captain looked a bit more composed.

At first, they believed that she was pulling a humorous prank on them, since, to them at least, it was virtually impossible for somepony as powerful as Celestia to fall so easily at the hooves of somepony else. Upon seeing her solemn expression however, they could see that what their Queen had said was anything but a joke, but something told them that that wasn’t the only shock they were going to get.

“Y-your Majesty…is this true?” Another Solar Guard, this one being a mare, asked tentatively, a disbelieving look on her face. “W-were you really attacked by somepony?”

“Yes, I’m afraid that you all heard me correctly. I was attacked without any provocation at the Town Square in Ponyville.” Celestia said sadly as she put a hoof to her chest. The memories of being stabbed through the chest, electrocuted, flew through her mind, but she cleared it form her head. “As much as I’m ashamed to admit it, I wasn’t able to do anything to stop it, or the destruction that she unleashed afterwards. Believe me when I say this, she left quite a bit of it in her wake, more than I can probably even count. I assume that you are all wondering just who it was that attacked me, are you not?”

None of the guards or Shadowbolts in the Throne Room responded, though many of them did give small nods. Celestia closed her eyes and lowered her head once more, letting out another sigh as she opened her eyes and addressed everypony once more.

“I will tell you, but before I do, let me just say that the pony who attacked me is the reason why I have the Lunar Guards and the Shadowbolts here. For I feel that they will all be much needed for what is to come, especially considering just who they’ll be up against.” The Queen replied, as she began her explanation. “First off, how many of you are aware of the event that took place over one thousand years ago? The day of the Lunar Eclipse?”

At these words, many of the ponies, the Lunar Guards and Shadowbolts especially, gave visible flinches as they all started to shift uncomfortably. Celestia could tell just by reading their body language, that they knew all too well what the Lunar Eclipse was. It was the day that Queen Luna, the Lunar Guard and Shadowbolts’ beloved leader had given into her pain and despair and surrender to the demon that plagued her. Thus leading her to transform into one of the most terrifying villains ever to be known to pony kind.

It was the day that the allied Solar and Lunar forces were divided into two sides, and forced to fight one another. A day that was considered the most destructive, brutal and bloody battle ever to be known in Equestrian history, one that would forever scar the face of Equis. It was also the day that the Goddess of the Moon and ruler of the night was imprisoned onto the very orb that gave the mare her name. The very same one that had now escaped and now controlled once more.

“Yes your Majesty, we do. We know of the Lunar Eclipse, and what came along with it.” Another pony, this one being a Thestral stallion, said softly. “It was the day that our dear beloved Queen of the Night was taken from us by that…blasted demon Miasma Shadowstalker. The very same one that turned our Queen into that monster known as Nightmare Moon.” After taking a moment to collect himself, he looked back up at Celestia curiously. “Why is it that you ask? Is there something about it that we don’t know?”

Celestia gave a slight pause, running a hoof through her ethereal color-changing mane a=s she addressed the Lunar Guard. “Yes, as a matter of a fact there is. I’m sure you all have heard the stories and tales of how I had defeated Nightmare Moon with the Elements of Harmony. Of how I had banished both her and my sister to the Moon for all eternity, correct?” A frown formed on the swan white Alicorn’s face as each of the ponies nodded. “Well, that’s not entirely true. There is actually an old saying on that event, or rather, a prophecy. One that ponies believe is only a myth. It is said that one the thousandth day of the thousandth year, Nightmare Moon’s time on the Moon will come to an abrupt end. The stars scattered all about the cosmos would gather together and aid her in her escape from the Moon. They will take her all across the fragments of outer space, and back to the planet of Harmonia. Where she will extract her revenge, and try to take over the land once more.” She looked down at her front hooves. “My little ponies, I am here to tell you, that prophecy has come true.”

The moment those last words left her mouth, each of the guards went as still as the very castle they were in. For a moment that seemed to stretch on forever, all of the ponies just staring at their Queen as if she had said the world was about to end. That Lunar Guards and Shadowbolts looked just as, if not even more flabbergasted by what the Sun Goddess had said, and they wondered if they had heard her right. Celestia said nothing, just looking down at her guards with a composed expression, showing them she was not joking around. Eventually they did, and when one of them spoke, this being a Shadowbolt Pegasus stallion. When it did, it sounded like he had seen the one thing he feared the most in his nightmares.

“The…the prophecy has…c-come true? M-my Queen, are you meaning to tell is that N-Nightmare Moon has…returned from her imprisonment?” He said with a stutter, his eyes widening with just the slightest bit of fear. “By Faust...if that’s true…then that means…”

“Yes my little ponies.” Celestia said as she raised her head and spread her vast wings, already knowing what the guard was about to ask before he even asked it. “The Lunar Eclipse has begun once more, and Nightmare Moon Nocturnis has returned.”

Complete, utter, and deafening silence was all that could be heard throughout the entire throne room. Many of the guards and Shadowbolts could be seen shaking slightly as they looked to one another, speaking in hushed tones and quiet whispers. Only their leaders looking be in control, yet even they looked to be scared. Celestia took in all their terrified expressions as her own features softened once more. Lowering her head and folding her wings, she let her posture became more relaxed, before continuing to speak.

“I see that you all are very terrified of this, since it’s been over a thousand years since it had last happened. I do not blame any of you in the least for feeling what you are feeling now. Why wouldn’t you be afraid? Anypony would, especially when the one pony who took my sister had threatened to shroud all the land in Eternal Darkness.” Celestia said with a slight chuckle. It lasted for no more than a few seconds before it was replaced with a frown as the swan white Alicorn looked each of her guards in the eyes. “Be that as it may, I am afraid that I must ask you all to bury that fear away deep inside your hearts. It is not just your lives that are at stake her, but also the lives of your supposed families, me, and just about every other pony here.”

She slowly rose form her throne and slowly began to make her way towards the stairs, her mane and tail skirt flowing behind her. Her hooves made soft thumping sounds as she kept her gaze locked on everypony in the Throne Room. “I am asking all of you, not just, as your Queen, or as this lands ruler, but as a fellow pony, to swallow whatever fear you have, and rise up together. To be prepared to protect not only yourselves, or the ones you love, but this very land itself. So that you may all live to see and fight another day, and right to free my sister from the darkness that plagued her and bring her back into the light? Are you all prepared for fighting, not for yourselves, but your loved ones, me, and my dear sister?”

As she made her way to the bottom of the stairs, Celestia flared her majestic wings taking regal, and rather intimidating, posture. “Are you prepared to face what may be the most powerful, dangerous, and deadliest foe that has ever come to pass, and protect those you love? So that they can all live to see the Sun rise once more, even at the potential cost of our own lives?” The swan white Alicorn asked, looking each and every one of her soldiers straight in the eyes.

For a few moments, none of the guards said anything, apprehensive expressions on their faces as they fidgeted on the spot. Celestia could practically feel it radiating off of them, along with what she thought was a small sense of hope, as she waited for their response. A small part of her expecting them to decline the offer, to back out of what she was assigning them to do, instead of agreeing to fight. It was the same thing she asked Goku and her friends to do back at the Golden Oaks Library when she offered them the choice to becoming the next bearers of the Elements of Harmony. This theory was proven wrong, when the guards’ fearful expressions wore off replaced by ones of determination as they all stood to attention.

“Queen Celestia, we’d be more than happy to assist you into bringing down the monster that took your sister. We’re also more than prepared to fight by your side if that’s what it takes.” One Solar Pegasus Guard said with sharp salute. “That is what you trained us for after all.”

“I believe you mean, what her and her sister have trained us for?” A Lunar Guard asked dryly, looking over at the Solar Guard. “All misinterpretations aside, I do have to agree with you. As loyal as we are to our beloved Queen Luna, that does not mean that we’re not prepared to fight alongside her sister should the moment call for it. Isn’t there a rule stating in the Royal Guard Rule Book that no group of soldiers should obey the other Queen unless one of them is out of commission or unable to take charge?”

“You’ve got that right, buddy!” A slightly raspy, masculine voice said from the far back as a Shadowbolt Pegasus stallion with a dark brown crimson streaked mane took to the air. “It doesn’t matter which one we’re following! Anypony who messes with either of the Queen’s, is going to have to answer to us! Nopony messes with the Queens when we’re around! Am I right guys?!”

“Yeah!” Many of the other Shadowbolts replied, giving the mare hoof pumps and pats on the back as the guards all gave nods of agreement.

Celestia looked over at all the ponies in front of her, a small, relieved smile plastered on her face. She slowly folded her majestic wings back to her sides as her lavender eyes shone with gratitude. “Thank you…you have no idea how relieved I am to hear you all agree to help me go through with this. I figured that you would be discouraged when I told you just what we’d be up against. It seems I underestimated just how dedicated and loyal you all are, a grave mistake on my part. Who knows? If things go according to plan, my sister will be saved, and you’ll get to see your Queen again after so long.” She looked over at the Lunar Guards and Shadowbolts with fondness as she said this. Taking another deep breath, her expression became serious once more as she spoke one more, her voice echoing across the Throne Room.

“Solar Division Captain Shining Armor Twinkleshine Sparkle! Lunar Division Captain Moon Blade Ketsuekikiba! Shadowbolt Captain Violet Fire Kindheart Rosario! All of you, please step forward!”

Once those words were spoken, one pony from the Solar division stepped forward, while another from the Lunar Division, and the Shadowbolt flock flew from their respective parties. All three of them stood within a few hooves’ length of the Queen, giving brief bows to her, before holding their heads held high, waiting for her orders.

The first pony standing right in the middle of the group of three was a Unicorn stallion. He had a coat that was paler than the brightest of snow covering the highest mountain peak, with just a tinge of grey. His mane and tail skirt were long, a deep sapphire blue color with moderate and phthalo blue streaks in them, covered by a large helmet. His eyes were a deep shade of moderate cerulean, and his Cutie Mark was that of a large sapphire blue shield with a large six-pointed purple star, with three smaller grayish blue stars floating above it. He wore golden and yellow armor that looked to be in the shape of a saddle, with a hole at the back for his long leonine tail to move freely about. Right in the center of his chest, was the same six-pointed star as the one on his shield Cutie Mark. This stallion was known as Shining Armor Twinkleshine Sparkle, the Captain of the Royal Solar Guard Division.

The second pony standing at the right of the stallion looked to be a Bat Pony, with some slight differences. It was another stallion, a coat that was even whiter than the Unicorn stallion’s, almost frighteningly so. It shone so much that it seemed to glow in the light of the Moon, giving him the appearance of a ghost that had rose from its grave. His mane and tail skirt were long, just centimeters away from touching the ground, looking to be blacker than the deepest and darkest of underground pits. His eyes had the deepest color of red ever discovered, and when they were looked into, it was like staring into an endless sea of blood. His wings were huge, looking to be much stronger than those of the Lunar Guards, with the membranes stretching all the way down to his rump and tail fins. The Cutie Mark of a sword covered in a purple starry mist could be seen shining on his flank, and a set of dagger-like fangs could be seen poking out of his mouth, looking to be as longer than the other Thestral’s. This stallion was known as Moon Blade Ketsuekikiba Murasame, the Captain of the Royal Lunar Guard Division.

The last pony, standing at the left of the Unicorn stallion, was a Pegasus mare, and a rather beautiful one. She was covered in the same dark purple uniform as the other Pegasi sitting in the far back, indicating that she was a Shadowbolt. That did not however, leave anypony clueless as to what her fur color was, since her whole face and head was clearly visible looking to be black than ink. Her silky black mane and tail were very long, settling into a small pile next, with deep indigo highlights right at the tips and edges. The mare’s eyes were a beautiful golden yellow color, which seemed to give a slight shin. They looked strong, bright, radiant, and held an air of kindness, gentleness, and assertiveness that would’ve made Fluttershy either extremely proud or extremely jealous.

Her wings were as big as the Thestral’s, with a combination of inky black and indigo feathers, with her tail feathers, poking just out of her suit. Unlike the Unicorn and bat-winged stallion, her Cutie Mark could not be seen, being covered by her dark purple and black suit, though nopony really questioned it. Like Moon Blade, she also had a roseray hanging from her neck, with a blood red eye in the center, attached to her dog-like color, and a long chain. This mysterious, yet beautiful looking mare was known as Violet Fire Kindheart Rosario, the Captain of the elusive Shadowbolts.

“How may we be of service, your Highness?” Shining Armor asked respectfully, his deep voice rumbling from out of his throat.

“As the three of you are already aware by now, you are by far the top three strongest ponies here. More than capable of handling even the toughest of foes. Because of that, I have chosen you three to be the ones to lead your fellow soldiers and have them help you follow the task that I am going to assign you with.” Celestia replied, looking at each of them intently. “Captain Shining Armor, I want you and your troops to head down to Ponyville and keep the ponies there safe from any harm that may come to them. If there are any that are wounded and in need of help, feel free to have your best medics assist those that needed. I would also like you to have your most trusted soldier send some of your troops in the Everfree Forest to me and my sisters abandoned castle. It is to assist another group that I have sent in to find the Element of Harmony, so they can defeat Nightmare Moon.”

“As you command, your highness.” Shining Armor replied, giving a bow to the Solar Queen.

“Captain Moon Blade, I want you and your troops to assist Captain Shining Armor and his group in any way that you can. Have some of your troops patrol the skies so they can alert you of any danger that may come above. I would also like you to have one of your own soldiers lead his own batch of troops into the Everfree Forest to do the same thing as well for the ones who’ll defeat Nightmare Moon”

“As you wish, your Majesty.” Moon Blade replied, his voice low and refined as he too took a bow.

“Captain Violet Fire, you and your will take to the skies and head straight to the Everfree Forest as well, and assist the Solar and Lunar Guards that will be there.” Celestia before giving a slight pause. Her eyes widened slightly, as if she had remembered something important, before looking down at Violet Fire “Oh, and while you are at it, I would also like you to send one of your fellow Shadowbolts up to Cloudsdale and give note to Wonderbolt Captain Spitfire on what is going on, and see if you can get her and her troops to assist in protecting Ponyville as well.”

“It shall be done, my Queen.” Violet Fire replied, her tone softly and gently as she also gave a bow.

“Does everypony understand what they are now supposed to do?” Celestia asked, looking around the room one final time. She was given a chorus of nods, and the swan white Alicorn let out a deep exhale. “Good. You are to leave immediately, for there is no time to waste. The sooner we get to the Castle of the Two Sisters, the better, now go!”

Not needing to be told twice, the Guards, and Shadowbolts all filed out, leaving Celestia to stand in her Throne Room in silence. After another few minutes, she let out a sigh as she looked out the window at the now blank Moon floating in the night sky. She stared at it for a time, as if trying to see the black blotch that used to be there, before making her way towards the exit of the Throne Room.

‘So…it’s finally happened, hasn’t it, Luna? The day that you would return and try to take over the land once again…and extract your revenge against me.’ The swan white Alicorn thought as she closed her eyes for a few moments in reminiscence, before it morphed into one of determination. ‘Fear not sister, I may have failed to save you a millennium ago, but that doesn’t mean that I will fail a second time! I’ve taken all the necessary precautions I needed to ensure that history does not repeat itself.’

She looked up at the ceiling at the many fabric made symbols of the Sun and the Moon made for her, feeling a small stab of pain go through her chest. ‘It won’t be long before Elements are reawakened, and you are finally freed from Miasma’s grasp at last. After that, I’ll finally have you back by my side once more.’

With that goal set in mind, Celestia exited out of the Throne Room, encasing the giant entrance doors in an aura of golden yellow magic. With a loud resounding slam, she shut the doors behind her, leaving the Royal Throne Room in complete silence.

As the Solar Queen prepared for the destructive battle that was soon to come, another event was taking place in one other area. Unlike in Ponyville or Canterlot City however, it was in a place that nopony had ever inhabited for the last millennium. It was an environment that nopony dared to step inside, due to the many dangers that it held. Unlike the many towns and cities that adorned Equestria, this was a forest, and not just any type of forest either. It was a forest unlike any other that had ever been discovered before, one that only the brave, or the foolish, or the experienced would dare set hoof in. One that would make any other wilderness, other than one, look like a wonderland in comparison.

The Everfree Forest.

This forest was not like any of the other wild places found in any other part of Equestria, or in any other place beyond that. The Everfree Forest was a wilderness unlike any other, filled with many different animals, and even plants that would more than likely kill a pony on first sight. It was a forest with trees looking bigger than they should be, with dense bushes and woodlands that would easily be used as a hiding place. The animals roaming through the bushes, skies, and plains of it had many different strengths and abilities that made them fiercer than the other. All around it, the weather was unpredictable, changing in ways that would be catastrophic for any towns and cities that would be in it. That, and the wild and chaotic magic that the whole forest gave off gave anypony that walked in the forest the feeling of being watched. It was for these reasons alone that nopony entered it for any reason, and had their children stay away from it as best they could; least they be eaten or lost, or potentially die in the forest.

These reasons mattered very little to the pony that could currently flying through the trees, the ones that were at a normal height other than the behemoths. Her misty mane and tail billowed behind her as her bat wings flapped silently through the air. Her draconic eyes shine brightly in the near pitch-black darkness of the forest, the Moon being the only thing giving any light to the forest whatsoever. Her fur, blacker than any sin, seemed to merge perfectly with the shadows of the Everfree as she glided her way through them. Her bat-like ear took in any sounds of any animal that was sent her way, from roars, to bellows, to ear piercing screeches, and chirps and bleats of any nearby plant eaters.

“I can see that this place hasn’t changed in the slightest the last time that I’ve been here.” Nightmare Moon said to herself, her fangs glistening as she smirked to herself. She closed her eyes and let herself feel the magic flowing throughout the jungle-like woodlands. “Hmmm, yes, I can feel the magic flowing through this forest quite nicely. I can certainly see why that little Lunar Queen of a mare liked being around it and why her meddlesome sister didn’t. It’s just so wild, so raw, so…dark and bloodthirsty; exactly my cup of tea if I do say so myself. No wonder Celestia couldn’t stand to be anywhere near it whenever they did travel through here. Hmph, only goes to show just how much of a weak mare she was inside, unlike her dear little sister.”

Laughing to herself, Nightmare Moon gave another few hard flaps of her wings, pulling herself higher into the air and going past the giant trees. It didn’t take very long before she found herself at the very top of the forest of giant trees, allowing her to see the fast number of trees and the mountains beyond. As she looked up, she could see the night sky glittering with the stars that were twinkling above her. Right in the middle of the sky, the Moon cast her in it’s pure white glow, bringing a warm comforting feeling to the Alicorn. A peaceful expression made its way to her face, a content sigh leaving her as she closed her eyes in relief. It didn’t leave her face for a few moments, even as the sound of screeching birds and the clapping of thunder echoed about the sky above her.

“My, this forest has grown quite a lot in the last thousand years, hasn’t it?” The sin black Alicorn murmured to herself as she looked around the air. “It wasn’t quite this big when I was still here, with nowhere near this number of animals. Of course, with a magical and chaotic forest like this, I suppose I can’t really expect it to not grow at least this large. It would seem that these dear creatures have gotten quite busy after me and my sister had left.”

In the midst of her observation of the giant forest around her, Nightmare Moon noticed out of the corner of her eye, a large and somewhat demolished building. At first, she didn’t recognize it, but as it began to come into view more, something clicked inside of her mind.

“No way…it can’t be!” She said as she observed the building. “That can’t possibly be the castle that I’m looking for!”

As Nightmare Moon flew closer to the ruined building in front of her, she could see that it was indeed the castle she was trying to find. This castle being the thousand-year-old abandoned Castle of the Two sisters, the castle that Queen Celestia and Luna once shared with one another. The castle looked, for the lack of a better word, in utter ruins, yet still looked to be standing, despite nearly all of it being gone. A large portion of the castle missing with one two smaller towers on either side that were still on peek condition, even after all the time it was left behind. Thick coats of algae were growing on random parts of the castle, and a few or so trees could be seen growing around it from the inside and outside. Some distance away from the castle, was a large dirt trail that led to a fallen bridge that was supposed to have connected to the other split part of the earth. Said bridge however, was nowhere in sight, looking to be hanging right into the pit that separated the castle form the rest of the forest surrounding it.

“Oh dear, it would seem that me and my sister’s old castle has taken some damage while we were gone.” Nightmare Moon muttered, a frown coming to her black muzzle. Her eyes scanned around it, taking in the cracks, holes and destroyed towers that were no longer in sight. “It looks like I’m going to have to use more or my magic to fix it than I thought…oh well.”

Shrugging to herself, Nightmare Moon folded her wings halfway and descended towards the edge of the ground where her castle was. Spreading them out, she hovered in the air for a few moments before landing on the ground with a soft crunch of the grass. She exhaled her nostrils and walked over to the castle, using her magic to open the large double doors, which allowed her to see the inside of the old castle. Her turquoise eyes were greeted with the sight of the large hallways, and the multiple rooms adoring the sides of it. There was also old paintings and ancient art of the Sun and the Moon hanging off of the sides of the hallway. At the far end of the hallway, was a single large door, having torn fabric and broken windows of the Sun and the Moon on either side of the door and above it.

Nightmare Moon stared at the pictures and windows with an unreadable expression for some time. As if trying to contemplate whether she was happy to see pictures of her Moon, or upset that the symbols of the Sun were there also. As she walked down the hallway, she looked around at the fabric pieces that had the same pictures that had the signs of what use to be a castle belonging to two sisters. A look of revulsion came to Nightmare Moon’s face as she took in the sights of the Sun and the Moon rising with one another, as if merging day and night with each other. Just seeing such pictures gave the mare half a mind to just ignite them on fire and burn them until there wasn’t a trace of them left. To erase any trace that Celestia had left the day she and Nightmare Moon had clashed, and the former had banished her to her beautiful Moon, and left her to rot for one thousand whole years.

‘Get ahold of yourself Nightmare, now is not the time to be worrying over such trivial things.’ The sin black Alicorn thought to herself, giving a slight shake of her head. ‘You have far more important matters to attend to…like getting rid of those meddlesome mares that my sister sent to stop me, eliminating her, and taking my place as the rightful Queen of Equestria.’

Snorting, Nightmare Moon opened the door to the old Throne Room with her magic and walked inside, taking in the sight of the gigantic room inside. She looked around at the large walls having the large clear windows on either side, and the twin thrones sitting atop the stairs at the room’s far end. Finally, she looked up at the roof, which was devoid of the large encasement of glass that used to be there when the castle was still in peek condition. As she walked towards them, she sensed an incredibly powerful surge of magic just beneath her feet, making her freeze in place. The fur on her neck bristled as she bared her fangs, her draconic eyes slowly training down to the floor beneath her. A huge square lid could be seen under both of Nightmare Moon’s bare forehooves, encasing the one thing that had given Celestia the upper hoof in their fight. The seven weapons that led to Nightmare Moon’s imprisonment to the Moon for countless centuries, and would soon be used to stop her once more.

“So…my sister’s precious Elements are still here, are they?” Nightmare Moon asked herself, stepping away from the lid in the floor. “How surprising, I would’ve expected her to take them with her after she defeated me. It would seem that I was wrong in that factor…perhaps she hasn’t always relied on them to finish the job after all. It would seem she has grown some backbone over the last thousand years. Still, I wonder just how intact they are after all this time.”

Curiosity peeked, Nightmare Moon ignited her sword-like horn with magic and encased the lid in an aura of turquoise magic. She encased the square lid in the same aura and pushed it open revealing something large to be inside of the hole. Nightmare Moon pursed her lips and encased the large objects inside of the hole in the floor. With little to no effort, she pulled whatever was in the floor out into the open, making the ground rumble and shake as she did so. When the object was pulled out into full view Nightmare Moon took a few steps back to take a good look at it, and felt her eyes widen in shock. Towering above her was a large pillar having vines on either side of it, with long metal arms, each one going higher than the last. At the end of each those metal arms, sat large spheres holding the craving of gemstones in the middle of them. In the very center of that same pillar, was an even bigger pillar that had the engraving of a star, the only gemstone that seemed to have any type of shape out of the others.

For a moment or two, Nightmare Moon stood rooted in place, staring wide eyed at the large spheres sitting on the giant pillar before her. Out of all the things that she expected to find underneath the Element’s Secret Chambers, this was the last thing she believed that she was going to see. The weapons that Celestia had used to win against their fight going from their beautiful gem like appearances, to nothing more than large dusty spheres of cement. Once the sight fully sunk in, Nightmare Moon blinked, icy chilling laughter erupted from within her.

“Oh my Faust, is this really how lazy you have gotten, Celestia?!” Nightmare Moon exclaimed, nearly toppling over in her laughter. “I knew you were naïve, but now I can see that you are just plain idiotic! I would’ve thought that you were at least a bit smarter than that; leaving the Elements in such poor condition where they can so easily be destroyed!” After several more seconds of cold icy laughter, Nightmare Moon composed herself, and looked back up at the seven spheres with a wide fanged grin. “This makes my job so much easier, especially those seven little mares are the ones who’re going to be looking for it. Oh, I cannot wait to see the looks of utter despair on their faces when I shatter the Elements right in front of their eyes! Oh, this is going to be so much more fun than I thought it would be!”

Letting out another laugh, Nightmare Moon flew over the encased Elements to the two thorn chairs sitting at the top of the stairs in front of her. She eyed them for a moment, as if trying to figure out just what she was going to do with them, while going about with her plan. Draconic eyes glowing brightly, she ignited her horn, and fired off a large beam of magic at both of them, demolishing both chairs in the process. Smiling in satisfaction, she from the destroyed chairs and walked over to the Element Pillars that were still standing out on full display. She encased it and the Elements and pillar the were sitting on and lowered them back down into the floor, flipping the lid back over them with a loud clank.

“There, that takes care of that little problem.” Nightmare Moon said to herself as she stood just in the middle of the Throne Room. “Now for the next part…I don’t know if this’ll be able to work or not, given how much power this’ll take. Then again, I’ve had over ten centuries perfect this, along with so many other spells, so I think it’ll go off without a hitch.”

Closing her eyes, the turquoise aura of magic surrounded her, lighting up the entire room as it did so. It grew larger and more powerful in strength, the same streaks of it flowing about the room as clouds of dust swept all over. This went on for a few moment, Nightmare Moon’s aura growing in intensity as she prepared to unleash the power behind it. Suddenly, her draconic eyes snapped open, and with a neigh that echoed about the entire castle, she reared up and slammed her forehooves down.

The effect was immediate.

The millisecond that Nightmare Moon’s hooves touched the ground, a wave of magic washed over the floor, along with the entire room. The dusty stone-grey grounds and walls of the old throne room turned into a beautiful bright icy blue color that was smoother than silk. Cracks in the floor vanished, replaced by smooth and cool icy floors, looking to be see through. Broken and demolished windows torn away replaced by new ones having pictures of a nocturnal landscape, with the Moon hovering high above them. Behind the sin black Alicorn, a brand-new throne was being made, replacing the two ones that she had just destroyed.

The other rooms, hallways, and the exterior of the castle was also being repaired as well, other than the old throne room Nightmare Moon was currently in. The old fabric and imprints of the Moon were replaced were new icy glistening ones, while the ones of the Sun were demolished and disintegrated. Even the floor was given a beautiful gleaming white and blue color, with a giant crescent moon in the center. Outside, the large and small towers and smaller sheds were also being repaired, becoming much bigger. The castle itself also grew in size, becoming twice as big as the Castle of the Two Sisters, consisting of different twilight colors, with a few parts of it being blue and black. It grew so large that it could easily be seen across the wide-open plains outside of the castle, and the glow it gave off thanks to the Moon made it easily spotted. To top the appearance of the new castle off, a long icy white trail slithered across the ground. It went from the double door entrance, all the way down to where the bridge was, where a large icy bridge formed, replacing the old one.

Back inside the newly reformed Throne Room, Nightmare Moon stood in place, the curled bang of her ethereal made shadowing her eyes. She made no other movements, nor did she speak a word as the aura of power around her slowly vanished. Her mane and tail floated behind her as her eyes slowly opened, taking in the newly made sight of her castle. Another smile came to her face as she took in the new castle’s beauty, everything looking to be to her liking.

“Oh my…that turned out even better than I thought that it would.” Nightmare Moon said jovially, as she ruffled her wings. She looked up at the newly fixed roof, and smiled up at the large icy lantern having numerous crescent and full moons on it. “I’ve that picture in my head for so long of what I wanted my own castle to look like, and now, after a thousand years, I’ve finally done it. Now, all that’s left is to create my little dark army. I have no doubt that my sister will be coming here with her own, so I think that it’s only fitting that make my own for her.”

Closing her eyes, Nightmare Moon ignited her horn an in aura of magic, but instead of it being in the color of her eyes, it was the color of her fur. She lowered her head and let the tip of it touch her floor, letting the magic spread all throughout it. Thick wisps and blotches of solid black magic began to rise from the floor, as if they were corpses rising from the grave. They slowly began to take forms and bodies, distorted at first, but soon ones that belonged to that of an equine, almost twice the size of one.

Fur, manes, tails, and eyes of many different colors began to form on them, only there’s were far darker. One other thing drastically different about this army shadow ponies was that they had appearances like that of a Thestrals, except more sinister looking. Their wings were bigger, lined with larger curved claws, their fangs were not too far off from that of a saber tooth cat’s, and their ears were actually that of a bat’s designed for special hearing. Some of them even had horns, rivaling Nightmare Moon’s and length, and were curved in the same sinister fashion as Sombra’s. Their leonine tails lashed behind them like whips as they let out hisses that could freeze even the warmest blooded of creatures. Their fangs gleamed as bright as their armor as their glowing slitted eyes stared back at their Queen, who stared back at all of them fondly.

“My dear Nightmare Army children, it is so wonderful to see you all again, even if it has been a rather short time.” Nightmare Moon cooed, as if she were speaking to a group of young foals. “I honestly never thought that the day would come where you’d all be able to shine along with me. It would seem that fate has other plans for all of us, as it did with my freedom from by beautiful moon.”

The army of bat winged Nightmare Ponies all let out a chorus of hisses as they all stared back at their Queen in utter adoration. Their fangs stuck out like twin pick axes as they all smiled at her, their bat ear twitching every so often.

“Now my children, before we get down to business, there is something that I’d like to ask you all.” Nightmare Moon said, holding a hoof up to silence the hissing and murmuring. “Do any of you know what I have called you here for?”

A stretch of silence washed across the Lunar Throne Room, with all of the Shadow Ponies looking at one another in confusion. Nightmare Moon watched on in amusement as they tried to contemplate just what their Queen, or rather, their mother, had created them for.

“Of course, you wouldn’t. Only a select few of you know of the mission that I plan to give you all by this day’s end. For those of you who don’t know, you may have forgotten about it. No worries about that; allow me to tell you so you can make more sense of what is going on.” Nightmare Moon said, lowering her hoof as she cleared her throat. “Over a millennium ago, I had tried to take back my place as the ruler of this land, after somepony that I had once considered by family betrayed me. We ruled aside one another for countless of centuries, vanquishing foe after foe and keeping peace in the land that you know find yourselves in now. It was a peaceful time, until our dear subjects started to turn against me, and this pony that I use to rule with did nothing to help me. She let me wallow in my pit of despair, and did nothing to protect me from the wrath and the prejudice of my subjects, never noticing what was happening to me until it was too late. This pony, is Queen Celestia Daybringer, my dear, and soon to be dead, sister.”

The moment those last words left her mouth, the entire Nightmare Pony Army went dead silent, their gleaming draconic eyes staring back widely at their Queen. The sin black Alicorn watched them all intently, seeing the recognition that was slowly coming to their faces. As quickly as the shock came, it was replaced with looks of fury and anger, which was reflected off of the sinister black aura radiating form off of their bodies.

“Yes, my dear children, it was my very own sister that betrayed me, and left me to rot at the hooves of our, or rather, her, adoring subjects. Worst of all, she saw it happen right in front of her eyes, yet she did nothing to help me, her own sister. She only offering measly words of encouragement that did nothing to help me in the predicament that I was in, and by the time she realized just how far gone I was, it was too late.” Nightmare Moon explained as she closed her eyes, memories from over one thousand years ago swimming across her mind. Letting out a ground rumbling growl, she opened her eyes and looked back up at her Nightmare Army. “I didn’t think it could get any worse than what it was all those centuries ago. All the constant backlash, accusations, and attempts to attack me and even take my life, and being looked at as if I was a demon from Tartarus. All of it was so horrible, so much so that I didn’t think it could get any worse…and then, one day, it did.”

Nightmare Moon’s lips curled back, her pure white vampiric fangs gleaming in the darkness of the new Throne Room, as she began to shake. Her eyes squeezed shut for a moment as she snorted so hard that blue fire flew from her nostrils.

“Pushed to the brink of insanity, and on the very edge of madness, I had finally managed to find some semblance of happiness that I had tried to grasp for so long.” Nightmare Moon said, her voice softening as she looked down at the ground. “It was so wonderful, so blissful. It was at such a degree that I had completely forgot about everything around me, and focused only one that one thing that made me so happy. The one thing that brought a smile on my face and brought my heart more joy than any admirer of my night. I was so consumed with joy that I did not see my sister plotting my behind me back to take it away, and by the time I realized it…it was too late.” Her head rose up, and all of the Nightmare Army actually flinched back at seeing the furious, and absolutely anguished look on their Queen’s face. “I happened so unexpectedly that I was unable to stop it, and I have no idea of when it happened either. By the time I realized that had happened and who had done it, there was nothing that I could do about it…and that happiness that I felt, the one that I finally had after so long, was gone. It was whisked away like a mere speck in the wind just like that…which is why, Celestia must pay, and she must fall!”

Nightmare Moon suddenly flared her wings, sending out a powerful gust of wind throughout the room as she stood tall and proud in front of her magical army. “For too long, Celestia done me wrong, and evaded punishment that should’ve been inflicted when she began to turn against me. She has taken away all the love and respect that I should’ve gotten as well and kept it all to herself. She has ignored my cries for help, left me at the mercy of those who hated me, put her own subjects before me, and taken away the small inkling of happiness I thought that I would always have. Now on this night, she will finally face retribution for her crimes, and pay for all the suffering she has let be inflicted upon me. Tonight, this battle will mark the dawn of a new Era my children; the Era of the Darkness, the awakening of the Full Moon, and the rise of Eternal Night!”

A multitude of screeches and draconic roars broke out form inside Nightmare Moon’s Throne Room as the sin black Alicorn’s Nightmare Army went wild. The sinister aura surrounding their bodies grew and vibrated with intensity as their power went about uncontrollably. Nightmare Moon once again raised a silencing hoof, and just like that, all was quiet, and the Nightmare Army went silent once more.

“I am glad that you wish to aid me in this plot for revenge and my rise as the new Queen my children, this certainly pleases me a great deal.” Nightmare Moon praised raising an eyebrow down at her army. “I must honestly admit, I was never expecting you all to get this riled up, but I most definitely understand where you’re all coming from. You are all my precious creations after all, so that means you share everything with me; my powers, my memories, my feelings…even my hatred towards Celestia and her wretched day.”

At the last few words, the bat winged, saber fanged magic manifested ponies all let out more hisses and growls. Their eyes gleamed brightly as their tails lashed out, some stomping on the ground while others horn’s gleamed, looking ready to fire off powerful spells. Thankfully, any unnecessary damage to Nightmare Moon’s new Throne Room was prevented by the sin black Alicorn herself, who stomped on the ground a couple of times. They all stood to attention again, waiting for any orders that their Queen was going to give them.

“Now then, I believe that you should all go and prepare yourselves for the battle that is soon to come my dear children.” Nightmare Moon said sweetly, honey dripping from her words. “In the meantime, your dear mommy’s going to get ready herself. I have a feeling that it’s going to leave quite a scar on this forest…in more ways than one.”

Bearing wide and sinister smiles, each of the Nightmare Army ponies gave nods of obligement before they all began to give of sickly black auras. One by one they each sunk into the ground, leaving large holes of blackness in their wake, before they disappeared as well. Soon, there was no trace of their existence anywhere in the Throne Room, and Nightmare Moon was left there in complete silence once again.

“Well, that went much better than I thought that it would. For a moment there I didn’t think that I wouldn’t be able to pull it off, but it seems that I managed to pull it off without a hitch.” Nightmare Moon said, letting out a sigh. “Now, just one more thing…time to let my dear little children out to play…”

The aura of black magic appeared around her horn once again as she touched the smooth blue ground. Seven pits of pure blackness appeared, and six figures slowly rose from them, all of them having the shape and forms of ponies. They were covered in aura so dark that it was nearly impossible to identify them, but as they faded, it the appearances soon became crystal clear. A moment later, Nightmare Moon deactivated her magic and lifted her head to face the seven ponies in front of her, looking pleased at what she saw.

Five of the six ponies that were standing in front of her were Pegasi, with the last one being an Alicorn, very much like Nightmare Moon was. Although they matched each other’s height and size, but there were some significant differences that deeply contrasted them form one another. Several of the ponies were covered in suits that were black almost all over. There were also the outlines of a rather beautiful multitude of stars, just like the ones found in the Milky Way Galaxy. It was as if they were wearing the very galaxy itself, due to how the Pegasi’s suits seem to twinkle brightly in the room.

Where their masks were, they were shade a deep midnight blue, also having the same stars within the larger part of the suit, with the same being where their hooves were. In between those two colors, where a line of pure white stars going around their necks, and hooves, preventing the colors form merging into one another. Right where their Cutie Marks were supposed to be, was the symbol of the Milky Way Galaxy, with a golden white star right in the middle.

Another thing that was noticeable about the five Pegasi was the dark and vibrant colors of their manes, tails, and muzzles that stuck out from within their suits. The first one, in the middle, was a mare, with a royal blue mane and tail and a light blue coat, and deep peru red eyes that were lighter than Moon Blade’s. The second pony at the right side of her was a stallion with a spikey cyan mane and tail, with streaks of white in the center of the. His muzzle was very pale grey color, with what looked to be a scar on the left side of his mouth, and he had a pair of sea green eyes. The third pony on the left side of the first one was a mare with a deep shade of bluish-purple fur, a lighting shaped bluish violet mane and tail. Her eyes were a very pale lavender, and there even looked to be volts of electricity dancing about her mane and tail. The fourth pony next to the second one was a mare with pale violet fur, and a somewhat wavy pale pink mane and tail with white streaks, and deep ocean blue eyes.

The fifth pony at the far right of the third pony was a stallion with greenish gray fur, along with a bit of a goatee formed under his chin. He had a silvery cyan mane and tail, the tail looking like it was shaped like a tornado, and he had a set of gleaming emerald green eyes. The sixth and last pony, the Alicorn, was also adorned in attire, but unlike the six Pegasi, it was a set of deep silver regalia with sapphire blue gems. She had the same sin black fur as Nightmare Moon’s, with two gleaming turquoise orbs of the almighty dragon. One significant thing that set her apart from Nightmare Moon, was that her mane and tail skirt were a flowing indigo color, and her muscular wings were adorned with feathers. To top her appearance off, she had the Cutie Mark of a dark purple shield with a white crescent moon, and a purple plus sign just in the center of the moon.

“Hello, my dear children; it is so wonderful to see you all again.” Nightmare Moon said softly, looking down at the six ponies fondly. “I must admit, even though it was a mere short time since we had last spoke, it is so wonderful to see your precious little moon loving faces” She locked eyes with the sixth pony in front of her, her smile faltering slightly. “Especially yours, my dear little Nyx.”

The smaller sin black Alicorn, now referred to as Nyx, smiled up at Nightmare Moon, her own vampiric fangs mirroring the larger mare’s own. In a soft voice sweeter than silk, holding a bit of timidity, she replied, “It’s good to see you again too momma. I have to say, you weren’t exaggerating when you said that it was going to be a wild ride back to Equis.”

“Indeed, it was. I apologize if I made you feel nauseous my dear.” Nightmare Moon said, running a black hoof across Nyx’s cheek. “My overexcitement had gotten the better of me when I finally sensed that I was going to be free from my Moon. I was in such a rush that I did not think about how that rise would be for you and the others, so I’m sorry if I made you feel nauseous.” Her eyes trailed over to the five Pegasus ponies behind them. “Especially you five, Captain Nightshade, Stratus, Blueball Blitz, Starry Skies, and Charger.”

“My Queen, please don’t apologize. You made us specifically for the trials of speedy flying and fast pace training.” The first mare, Nightshade, said gently, giving a bow to her Queen. “As a matter of a fact, I’d say that the ride you brought us on was quite fun. It gave us a rather high and exhilarating feeling that I enjoyed quite a bit.”

“Totally!” The third pony replied cheerfully, taking to the air and smiling unnaturally widely at the sin black Dark Queen. “That had to be the rest fly through the galaxy that I ever had Queen Moonie! I’ve had a lot of fun flies through the universe with you, Captain Nighty, Nyx, and all the other Galaxy Star Bolts, but that last one really too the cake! I don’t think I’ve ever went that fast since you first made us.”

“That’s because there hasn’t been anypony that’s as fast as you before our dear Queen’s exile to her beautiful Moon.” The fourth pony, Starry Skies, said smoothly. “Now that she’s free, she was able to give us the chance to see just how quickly she can move.”

“That she has.” The fifth pony, Charger, nodded as he smirked at Starry Skies. “No offense to Captain Nightshade, but the speed that we saw Queen Moon go at after she got free, makes me feel like we’re still newbies in training.”

“Well, it certainly sucks to be you Charger.” The second pony, Straus, snorted as he stared blankly at the other stallion. “That just say that you need to get more training in after we’ve finished what the Queen will have us to. If you can’t get your ass out of your head and focus on the game, then you can just leave this group, ‘cause you’ll only slow us down.”

“Straus!” Nyx cried, snapping her head over to the pale grey stallion with a glare. “That was a very mean thing for you to say! You know just like the rest of us that Charger works and trains just as hard as the rest of us, even when during the nights we’re having fun! You take that back right now, or else!”

“No, it’s alright Nyx.” Charger said, holding a hoof up. “Don’t mind Straus, he’s just being an asshole, as per usual.”

“Yeah, and always taking things too seriously.” Nightshade added, shooting a sideways glare at Straus. “Looks like I’m going to need to give him another talk about learning to loosen up and be just a little bit nicer.”

“And just how many times have you had that talk with him Captain Nightshade?” Starry asked. “More times than we can even count since we first meet out Queen on her Moon all those centuries ago. No disrespect but, what makes you think that he’s going to actually take it to heart now?”

“Because he’s in a land where a majority of ponies treat each other kindly.” Nightmare Moon replied dryly, smacking Straus’s muzzle with her tail skirt. “And if he wants to be treated the same way, I expect him to do the same to our subject after we overthrow my sister and I become Equestria’s new Queen. Otherwise, Nightshade can simply beat it into him.”

“Well said my Queen.” Nightshade nodded, grinning evilly at Straus. “Otherwise, me and the others can simply beat it into him.”

“Oh, oh! I call first dibs on the first strike!” Blueball said, shooting her hoof up in the air. “The last pony to get it was Captain Nightshade, and she promised that I’d get a turn next time to give Straus a nice good pummeling!”

Nyx’s ears flattened. “Um, is that really necessary, Captain Nightshade? Not everything has to be solved with raising our hooves.”

“True, but there are just some ponies who need a lot more than simple words to get them to change if they want things to be better for them.” Starry said gently with a shrug. “You saw it yourself my dear Nyx…if words won’t help, then maybe some tough love will.”

“By tough love, you mean pulling Straus through the universe at unimaginable speeds, sending him into the Moon with wind slices, electrocuting him until his fur was black, and shooting him away from the Moon with tornados?” Nyx deadpanned, frowning deeply at the pale violet mare and the rest of her team. “That’s your definition of, ‘tough love’?”

“Of course, and ours us much more durable and tolerable than yours Nyx, no offense to you sweetie.” Nightshade cooed, winking at the indigo maned Alicorn. “While yours is just as, if not more effective, it wouldn’t really do well with us if our dear Straus was looking like he had stared into the eyes of the Death Goddess Selena herself.”

Straus snapped his gaze over to his captain, his teeth bared. “Are you calling me a crybaby Nightshade?”

“Of course not my dear Straus.” Nightshade replied as she pat the stallion on the head, ignoring the death glare he gave her. “I’m just saying that if our dear sweet Nyx here gave you her famous Nightmare Glare, you wouldn’t really be of much help in accomplishing our Queen’s goal in ruling all the land in Eternal Night.”

“Yeah!” Blueball nodded, sparks of electricity dancing across her mane and tail. “And we wouldn’t have you there for when we’re known as the world’s best flyers in all the land!”

“You mean the universe’s best flyers?” Charger asked, raising an eyebrow at the bluish violet mare. “There’s a reason why their called the Galaxy Star Bolts Blue. So, wouldn’t make sense if we were known as widely as the very galaxy we were named after?”

Blueball paused, mulling over Charger’s words for a moment before giggling. “Oh yeah, I would make more sense if I said that instead. Sorry Charger, my silly little noggin wasn’t smart enough to think of that, hmhmhm!”

“Assholes.” Straus growled, crossing his forehooves. “You are all a bunch of bitchy assholes.”

“Says the one whose acting like an asshole himself.” Starry retorted, smiling cheekily.

“Oh goodness.” Nyx sighed, shaking her head as she looked at her ‘mother’. “Those five never change, even after the last nine hundred years on the Moon. I wonder if they’re going to stay like this even after we’ve one against your sister momma.”

“Well, I for one hope that they will. It wouldn’t be the same if they didn’t act as they are now, even after we take the land as our own.” Nightmare Moon giggled, patting the smaller Alicorn on the head as if she were here actual child. “As is the downside for ruling over a kingdom my dear Nyx; you’re just going to have to work with some ponies that you don’t like. Even if they’re ones you’ve known for as long as you can remember. At least with them, you’ll be more use to their antics, and won’t be as annoyed as anypony else would.”

“Yes, you’re right about that momma.” Nyx sighed, smiling back up at Nightmare Moon. “Still, it feels like I’m watching over a group of foals who just won’t grow out of their foalish ways.”

“You and me both.” Nightmare Moon stated dryly, earning a giggle from Nyx. “Anywho, now that you’re all here, there is something that I wish to discuss with you all. It concerns whether or not I’ll be able to win against Celestia and get rid of her retched day once and for all.”

“What would this me, your Majesty?” Starry asked, tilting her head to the side. Just before Nightmare Moon could reply, the pale violet mare added, “This wouldn’t have to do with those mares that we saw back in that library, would it?”

“Still as sharp as you have always Starry…I’m impressed.” Nightmare Moon praised, making the smaller mare blush and look away. “Well, since you’ve guessed it, it’s only fair that I confirm it; yes, it has to do with the seven little mares that we all saw earlier. Apparently, they’re planning to make a trek into this very forest to try and take me out by themselves instead of my sister.”

“They’re what?!” Nightshade asked, unable to hold back a fit of laughter. “That’s what they were doing when we saw them in there? Trying to come up with a way to stop us, let alone you, the strongest being in all of existence?!”

“I would appear so my dear Nightshade. My dear sister is sending somepony else to do her dirty work, as per usual…she really hasn’t changed over these last thousand years.” The sin black Alicorn replied, not sharing in Nightshades amusement. “However, this is not what concerns me as if yet…it’s rather what these ponies are going to use to try and stop me.”

Blueball blinked curiously. “What’s that Queen Moonie? What could those ponies use that’ll stand any chance of even sending you to the ground?”

“These.” Nightmare Moon snarled, igniting her horn and making the square lid in the middle of the floor open up. Nyx and the Galaxy Star Bolts watched as the pillar holding the Elements rose form the ground and presented itself to them. “You all recall how Celestia had defeated me with what I said was, the Elements of Harmony correct? Well, what you see here are the very same weapons that was used that fateful day. And those seven ponies you saw are coming to this forest to use these weapons that you see here to defeat me once and for all.”

“Really? These large spheres of stone are what those ponies are gonna use to beat you?” Straus asked, frowning as he looked at the seven spheres. “No offense your Highness, but I don’t really see anything special about these things. They just look like ordinary orbs to me.”

“Don’t be so easily swayed Straus, your eyes can deceive you sometimes, so it’s best if you don’t always trust them.” Nyx advised, running a hoof down the seventh spear. “They may not look like it, but these spheres have incredible amounts of magical power within them. I can feel just by looking at them. If these are the same things those ponies are looking for, then we have to do what we can to make sure they aren’t brought back into their original forms.”

“That is exactly right my dear Nyx, which is why I want all of you to do just that.” Nightmare Moon nodded. “I have the familiar gut feeling that it’s going to take quite some time for those young mares to get here. So, in the meantime, I want you all to train yourselves to the best extent of your abilities for the battle that is yet to come. For I foresee that it is one that is going to need every single ounce of your strength and intellect if you want to win.”

“You can count on us to do that your Majesty. Nopony is going to try to stop your plans of ruling and our plans of being known as the best flyers in Equestria.” Nightshade said firmly, nodding to her Queen as she gave her a salute. “if you don’t mind me asking though, I would like to know something. Just how powerful are those ponies, if you want us to train as hard as we did back on the Moon?”

For a moment or two, Nightmare Moon didn’t reply, choosing to close her eyes and go into what looked to be like a meditative stare. Nyx and the Galaxy Star Bolts all stared back at her, patiently waiting for her to reply as silence loomed over the room. After what seemed like forever, she opened her eyes, and stared into all six of their own with the most intense look they’ve ever seen.

“I’m not going to go into too much detail, but I will say this.” Nightmare Moon said. “From what I felt form their magic power, they’re about as powerful as the members of the clans that I told you all about. The ones that me and my sister allied ourselves with in our time building Equestria into what it is now.”

Nyx and all the Galaxy Star Bolts’ eyes widened upon hearing these words, none of them having been prepared for their Queen to say them. They stayed like that for some time, processing the words that Nightmare Moon said as she herself waited for them to respond. Eventually, they snapped out of their induced states, and Nyx was the first ones to break the silence.

“Everypony, I think we should be heading outside to the back of the castle now.” She said softly, yet firmly. “If these ponies really are this powerful, then we need to get down to training as soon as possible.”

“Right, already on it Nyx.” Nightshade nodded, before turning back to Nightmare Moon. “If these nothing else that needs our assistance Queen Moon, we’ll be going now.”

“No, there’s nothing that I need you and your team for right now; you may leave.” Nightmare Moon said, walking over to her throne. “Although Nyx, I will need to see you again sometime later, so be sure to come when I give the signal, alright dear?”

“Yes momma.” Nyx replied, giving a respectful bow before they all flew out of the Throne Room. As the doors closed, Nightmare Moon once again lowered the Elements back into the ground, and sat on her throne. A bright light engulfed her entire body, vanishing a second later as Nightmare Moon was revealed once more. Her once naked form was now adorned with azure blue armor going down to her lower stomach, which also adorning wing blades. Her hooves were adorned in azure horseshoes, while her horn had a pure white crown having a crescent moon at the top, with a smaller blood red one right in the center of her head. To top the new attire off, a long indigo cape flowed about, attached itself to either of her shoulders.

“Ahhhhh, now that’s much better…such fitting attire for the future ruler of Equestria.” Nightmare Moon said to herself. “Now all that’s needed to do is wait for you and your little ponies, dear sister, and the battle that is soon to come. I swear, I will finish you off this time, and once you’re gone, your Sun will fall…and my Moon will rise.”

Author's Notes:

Well everypony, there you have it, the specialized edited chapter of number 13, all up and ready to be read! For this chapter, there wasn't really anything to be changed other than the over extended sentences and thee overly long speeches with Queen Celestia and the explanations of the incident in Ponyville. The main reason for editing this chapter and changing it to the way it is now, is because, since I had Nightmare Moon be the main character here, there should be more scenes of her, which is part of the reason why I have her a scene in this chapter, the other part being because I wanted to show scene between the Galaxy Star Bolts like I did the last time I wrote them, along with bringing a certain black Alicorn filly that all seem to love to write about, and I love to read about when I get the chance!!! Looking over this, I think this went along nicely...I even had this in my head while I was writing about this chapter the first time, but I just had so much on my mind that I just simply wasn't able to flush it out. Now though, I was finally able to, and I can definitely say that I couldn't be more happier that I was able to.

Now, before I conclude this Author's Note, I just want to say that I'm going to be doing some research on the techniques that I plan to give the Main Seven, along with Celestia and Nightmare Moon/Luna, and all the other characters that I have in this series, both main, and background, with some being the same, while others are different. This is one of the main reasons why I added the Fairy Tail tag to my stories, because...I feel that Fairy Tail and My Little Pony blend quite nicely, especially both show just how powerful friendship can be. Even if the latter explains it in a more specific sense rather than adventurous sense, despite the fact that I plan to make this story pretty adventurous. Updates will may be going along slower than they are right now because of this, but I'll try to make some updates on my progress with the bios and the stories whenever I can.

Well, that's all for right now, I'm gonna take some time off before I go into the Main Seven's bios and this story's chapters once I get my brain working again. Faust knows how fried it is right now, and how fried it will be by the time this is all over!!! Next time, the girls will be traveling into the Everfree and take a rather terrifying ride through the sky, by the master of said sky!!!